Bakers Accused Of Discrimination Go To Court Over $135,000 fine

The Daily Caller has reported that two Oregon Christian bakers have attempted to appeal a ruling that has forced them to pay $135,000 to a gay couple they refused service to. The appeal was initiated Thursday.

Aaron and his wife Melissa Klein, co-owners of Sweet Cakes by Melissa, have gotten their day in appeals court over a 2013 dispute which cost them over $135,000 in 2015 when the couple refused to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple.

Up to this point, the couple has only be dealt rulings by administrative hearings, and administrative law has been argued in the past to be unconstitutional. Aaron Klein stated that when they attempted to make a constitutional argument for their case, “it was stomped out” he told the Daily Signal.

But now we’re finally in a courtroom where the Constitution and due process can be argued on a level we haven’t seen before. I’m looking forward to seeing the outcome.

The Klein’s attorney argued in court that creating a baking a cake for a celebrated same-sex marriage could violate the couple’s Christian faith, and forcing them to do so would be unconstitutional.

The law firm that is backing the Klein’s is a firm headquartered in D.C. which specializes in religious freedom cases.

My faith is a huge part of that. I was happy to serve this couple in the past for another event and I would be happy to serve them again,” she said. “But I couldn’t participate in a ceremony that goes against what I believe.

The Klein’s believe this case is about not forcing them to do something that is against their religious beliefs.

The three appeals court judges heard oral arguments about whether Oregon had a “compelling” enough reason to give the Klein’s a religious exemption from Oregon’s anti-discrimination laws.

The appeals court judges have yet to make a decision as of this Thursday.